…18 to 20 miles (in a similar number of hours) to the outskirts of Newcastle crossing the A1. He survived and the lump on his foot from the bite was…

…‘Dream Castle’ was only cut down two years ago yet already a wonderful show from the regrowth. Camellia ‘Dream Castle’ Camellia ‘Dream Castle’ The half deciduous Rhododendron ‘Chink’ is superb…

…the castle window painting nears completion. Strangely a five minute radio interview with Radio Stoke about how to grow magnolias! Clematis armandii with, as usual, a few autumn flowers on…

…Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ First flowers on Camellia reticulata ‘Dream Castle’. Camellia reticulata ‘Dream Castle’ The gigantic near white flowers on out best Magnolia campbellii alba seedling. The largest magnolia flowers…

…fontanesiana Whitewater ‘Howw’ Leucothoe fontanesiana Whitewater ‘Howw’ Prunus laurocerasus ‘Castlewellan’ – a great deal better than our erratic ‘Marbled White’. Prunus laurocerasus ‘Castlewellan’ Prunus laurocerasus ‘Castlewellan’ Pittosporum dallii Schefflera delavayi…

…Belvoir Castle A trip to Belvoir Castle for a board meeting (six plus hours each way). Karol goes to photograph some of our planting over the last 10 years at…

…Asia propagating. Ilex cornuta Ilex cornuta Jaimie’s hybrid Rhododendron ‘Maisie’ full out. Rhododendron ‘Maisie’ Rhododendron ‘Maisie’ Camellia reticulata ‘Dream Castle’ measured beside Lizzie’s hand. Camellia reticulata ‘Dream Castle’ Caerhays bred…

…she may hopefully give us a mention! Susan d’Arcy The castle reopened today for tours of only six people (booked online). Scarcely viable with these sorts of numbers but we…

…a noticeably different leaf form to our older plant from Penrice Castle and a denser more upright growth habit. Compare these pictures to a day or two ago. Carrierea calycina…

…too. I have seen species of Aristolochia with better and larger flowers than this. Aristolochia sempervirens Tropaeolum ciliatum is in full flower on the castle wall and has extended on…